Suture package

ABSTRACT

A carrier for suture devices, which consist of preassembled suture needles and threads, includes an elongated web of paper or other material having an end strip of heavy paper or cardboard resistant to needle puncture. Parallel side-by-side rows of tabs are formed in the web by cutouts from the web material which remain attached along one side of the cutout opening to form a hinge. These tabs are lifted or displaced to receive and confine the extended thread of the suture device with the suture needle overlying the heavy end portion; and the tabs are then replaced within the cutout openings to retain and confine the suture threads in side-by-side parallel alignment at longitudinally spaced intervals. A transparent adhesive strip is placed over the needles on the heavier end strip to confine the needles and provide immediate visual identification of the type and size of needle. The packaging method includes: providing the web and heavy base; forming the tabs as above described; displacing the tabs while laying the extended suture threads over the web and replacing the tabs to confine the suture threads.

United States Patent 1191 Foster 1451 Dec. 18, 1973 1 1 SUTURE PACKAGE[76] Inventor: Alliene Caraway Foster, 3016 Kingston, Dallas, Tex. 75211 22 Filed: Feb. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 227,183

Primary Examiner--Leonard Summer AttorneyCecil L. Wood et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A carrier for suture devices, which consist ofpreassembled suture needles and threads, includes an elongated web ofpaper or other material having an end strip of heavy paper or cardboardresistant to needle puncture. Parallel side-by-side rows of tabs areformed in the web by cutouts from the web material which remain attachedalong one side of the cutout opening to form a hinge. These tabs arelifted or displaced to receive and confine the extended thread of thesuture device with the suture needle overlying the heavy end portion;and the tabs are then replaced within the cutout openings to retain andconfine the suture threads in side-by-side parallel alignment atlongitudinally spaced intervals. A transparent adhesive strip is placedover the needles on the heavier end strip to confine the needles andprovide immediate visual identification of the type and size of needle.The packaging method includes: providing the web and heavy base; formingthe tabs as above described; displacing the tabs while laying theextended suture threads over the web and replacing the tabs to confinethe suture threads.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SUTURE PACKAGE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a package for the marketing andstoring of suture devices consisting of preassembled needles andthreads, and to a method for packaging such suture devices. The carrierof the invention is an improvement of the suture carrier described inthe Gordon E. Caraway U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,556.

The invention seeks to provide a convenient medium for assembling suturedevices in a convenient package, which may be done by automatic meansunder sterile conditions with the suture devices and package materialsbeing presterilized, and with the assembled suture packages then beingplaced in presterilized envelopes which are sealed to maintain thesterile character of the suture devices. The sterility is thenmaintained during the marketing functions of bulk packing for shippingto remote locations, the storing of the suture devices by wholesalingand retailing outlets, and the storing of the devices by users such ashospitals, clinics or offices of physicians. The suture devices whichmay be marketed in a variety of thread lengths and with a variety oftypes of needles are then readily available in sterile form forimmediate use as needed by the physician. When sutures are needed for aparticular procedure, a package is selected containing the needle typeand thread length desired; and, when open, the individual sutures arereadilyremoved from the package for immediate use. Unless the openedpackage is maintained under sterile conditions, the unused suturedevices in the package should be discarded after the completion of theprocedure.

This packaging arrangement takes advantage of the desired preassembly ofsuture needle and thread and provides for the packaging of thiscombination suture needle and thread for the most convenient use by theultimate users, as well as for convenient handling during shipping andstorage of the suture devices.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved package for anassembled needle and thread suture device for the shipping and storingof suture devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved packagewhich facilitates the assembly of the sutures devices to the packageunder sterile conditions and which facilitates the removal of the suturedevices from the package by the users for immediate use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method forpackaging preassembled needle and thread suture devices for shipping anduse.

These objects are accomplished in a carrier web of resilient flexiblematerial provided with a puncture resistant marginal support strip atone end. The web portion is provided with parallel side-by-side rows oftabs formed from cutouts in the web material with the tabs being hingedto the remainder of the web along hinge axes parallel to the rows. Thetabs are adapted to be displaced from the plane of the web to receivethe extended threads of the suture devices on the web aligned with thecutout openings so that the tabs may then be replaced in the cutoutopenings to confine respective suture threads at longitudinally spacedintervals whereby they may be readily withdrawn longitudinally.

A method according to the invention includes 'forming in a flexible webtabs of web material by partially punching cutouts in parallelside-by-side rows with the p cutouts being hinged at respective sides ofthe cutout openings; displacing the cutouts from the plane of the weband placing suture device threads over the rows of cutout openings; thenreplacing the cutouts within the openings to confine the threads; andconfining the needles at the end of the web by means of an adhesivestrip. I

The novel features and the advantages of the invention, as well asadditional objects thereof, will be understood more fully from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a broken plan view of a suture package, according tothe invention, in unfolded condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side edge view of the lower end portion of thepackage as seen in FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane 3-3 of FIG.ll;

FIG. d is a diagrammatic illustration of the formation of a cutout tabin the web material by means of a punch;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the displacing of the tab froma web plane and laying a suture thread over the web cutout opening;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the replacement of the tabwithin the tab cutout opening to confine the suture thread; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the web illustrating theconfining of a suture thread by a tab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing aregeneral overall views of a carrier 10 for suture devices 11. The suturedevices per se are not a part of the present invention, and are in theform of preassembled needles l2 and threads 13 the threads being of adesired predetermined length. The needles illustrated are curved;however it will be understood that the needles may be straight needlesor have any other desired shape. The ends of the needles to be attachedto the threads 13 have a configuration which is swaged or clamped aroundthe threads to provide a permanent assembly of the needle and thread.

The carrier 10 is illustrated as an elongated web 141 which may befabricated of paper or other suitable flexible resilient material. Theweb terminates at one end in a transverse support strip 15 of cardboardor other suitable material which is heavy enough or sufficientlyresistant to puncture to provide a protective support for the needles12, with the needles being secured to the strip by means of atransparent overlay 16. The overlay being sufficiently transparent topermit observation of the needlesby the merchandiser or user toascertain the size and'configuration of the needles. The overlay may besecured with a pressure sensitive adhesive for example which permitsready removal for use.

The suture devices 1111 are manufactured in a predetermined length; andthe length of the carrier 10 is preselected to accommodate the desiredsuture length. It iscontemplated-that the carriers 10 after having thesuture devices assembled therewith as will be described, will be, foldedin anappropriatemanner and placed in a-suitable sealed envelope. It isfurther contemplated that this packaging would be accomplished understerile conditions so'that the carrier and suture devices may beenclosed in a sterile envelope 9 to maintain sterility until theenvelope is ultimately opened to be used by a physician or othertechnician. Such enclosing envelope may be fabricated from any suitablematerial capable of being sealed and of completely sealing the enclosedmaterials from the atmosphere; and such envelope may be, entirelytransparent, as illustrated, or may include a transparent windowvisually exposing the needles 12 to assist in identifying the needlesize and configuration by the user before opening the sterile package.

In the illustrated package, four suture devices 11 are secured to theweb 14 in parallel side-by-side relation, with the suture threads 13being extended in a linear manner and secured to the web 14 bylongitudinally spaced tabs 17, these tabs being identified in FIG. 1 bythe reference numbers 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d to identify four rows a b cand d of tabs formed in the web 14. These rows are parallel to eachother and to the side edges of the web. As seen in the drawings the tabsare formed from the web material by a circular punch for example havingone segment of the cutting edge removed so that a horseshoe shaped cutis formed to provide a tab which is integrally hinged to the remainderof the web at one side. As best seen in FIG. 1 all the tabs 17 areformed with the integral hinge at the left side, thereby defining hingeaxes which are parallel to the rows and parallel to the side edges ofthe web.

The tabs may be referred to as cutouts formed from cutout openings inthe web, and the web material and tabs are sufficiently resilient andflexible so that when the tabs are deflected from the plane of the webthey will tend to return to that plane. Also, the web material should beof sufficient body or stiffness so that when the tabs are replacedwithin the cutout openings they will tend to be retained within theopenings due to the frictional engagement of the tab edges and cutoutopening edges.

For assemblying the suture devices 11 to the carrier 10, all the tabs ofa single row, such as the tabs 17d, for example, will be displaced fromthe plane of the web to a common plane probably perpendicular to theweb. With the tabs 17d so displaced, the thread 13 of a suture device isextended to a linear condition and laid over the exposed cut-outopenings 18d, and while the thread is maintained in this position thetabs 17d are replaced within the respective openings 18d to retain thesuture thread in the manner best seen in FIG. 7.

For a carrier of given capacity, such as a four suture device carrierillustrated in FIG. 1, preferrably all of the tabs 17a through 17d wouldbe displaced simultaneously, the four suture devices would be placedsimultaneously over the respective cutout openings with the needles 12being placed over the support strip 15, and all of these tabs would thenbe replaced in the web plane to secure the suture threads. Thetransparent overlay 16 would then be placed to secure the suture needles12 to the carrier.

FIGS. 4, and 6 of the drawing are illustrative of several steps of apreferred method for forming the package as partially described above.For the fabrication of such packages the steps include first, providingcarriers of desired length through the attachment of the punctureresistant strip to the web 14. The tabs may then be formed in the web 14by placing the web in suitable relation to a dye plate 20 and set ofpunches 21 with the punches 21 having, for example, horseshoeshapedcutting edges which coact with circular apertures in the dye plate20, as best illustrated in FIG. 4.

For the assembly of the suture devices to the carrier, the carrier maybe placed in appropraite apparatus having fingers 23 corresponding tothe location of the tabs 17 which extend upwardly through the plane ofthe web to displace the tabs 17 as indicated in FIG. 5. In thiscondition, the suture threads 13 are laid over the cutout openings 18,for example along one side of a row of fingers 23 on the opposite sidefrom the displaced tabs 17. When the fingers 23 are then withdrawn fromthe web openings, in the direction opposite the arrow in FIG. 5, the tabthrough the inherent resiliency of the web material will return to aposition overlying the cutout openings 18 and threads 13.

The next step is to replace the tabs 17 within the cutout openings 18;and this may be done by fingers 24 which move downwardly in thedirection of the arrow as seen in FIG. 6, and have a cylindricallyconcave end surface 25 to engage the upper surface of the tab 17 andurge at least a portion of the tab through the cutout opening. Asmentioned above, the tab will be retained within the opening due to theinherent characteristics of the web material to retain the suturethreads in a generally linear condition along the web surface.

The next step would be to place transparent overlay 16 over the supportstrip 15 to secure the needles 12 against displacement during thesubsequent handling of the carriers. Following this the carrier 10 maybe suitably folded, if desired, and placed in an enclosing envelope 9 tomaintain sterility of the suture devices until they are ready to beused.

In use, the overlay 16 is readily removed from the support strip 15 toexpose the needles 12; and the suture devices are readily withdrawn fromthe carrier for immediate use.

What has been described is a novel and convenient package and method ofpackaging for suture devices consisting of preassembled needles andthreads. The need for such preassembled suture devices is satisfied in apackage and method which facilitates the manufacturer and assembly ofthe suture package, provides upmost protection for the suture devicesduring the subsequent handling of the packages such as processing forshipment, shipment, and storage of the suture devices particularly atthe point of use. The packages are most convenient for the ultimateuser, providing for ready identification of the suture devices as tosize and configuration of the suture needle, and providing for readyremoval of the selected suture device from the package for most economicuse by the physician or other techniclan.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier for suture devices for surgical use comprising, incombination an elongated web of thin flexible material having apredetermined length and width;

a first relatively narrow strip of puncture resistant material securedto said web at one end, the length of said strip corresponding tothe'width of said web;

a plurality of suture devices, each comprising a suture needle and apreattached length of thread;

each suture device having a length corresponding generally to the lengthof the carrier web and attached strip;

means in said web for securing the threads of said suture devicesthereto in parallel relation lengthwise of the web, with the sutureneedles overlying said puncture resistant strip; said thread securingmeans permitting ready removal of the suture devices by pulling thedevices longitudinally relative to the web;

a second puncture resistant strip secured to and overlying said sutureneedles on said first puncture resistant strip for confining said sutureneedles, and being readily removable to expose the needles for use.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 said thread securing meanscomprising means arranged in parallel rows along the length thereof forpermitting interweaving of the suture threads in the web in parallelside-by-side relation.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 said thread securing meanscomprising parallel rows of spaced tabs 4. The combination, set forth inclaim 3 wherein said tabs are formed from incomplete circular cutshaving an extent of about 270.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 one of said strips beingtransparent to visually expose the suture needles.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said second strip istransparent and is secured to said first strip by means of a pressuresensitive adhesive, whereby said second strip is readily removed fromthe first strip to release said suture devices.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 a sealed envelope completelyenclosing said web,

said envelope including a transparent portion overlying said transparentstrip, whereby said suture needles are visibly exposed from the exteriorof the enclosing envelope.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 said web having thecharacteristic of relative stiffness and resistance to bending;

a plurality of parallel side-by-side rows of hinged tabs formed frompunched cutouts in said web; said tabs being attached to the remainderof the web along hinge axes parallel to said rows;

said web tabs being adapted to be displaced temporarily from the planeof the web to permit the laying of extended suture device threads overthe cutouts of the respective rows and, due to the bend resistancecharacteristic, tending to return to the plane of the web; said tabsbeing replaced within the web cutout openings and, due to the stiffnesscharacteristic, being reengaged frictionally to define fasteners forlaterally and longitudinally confining the suture threads on the web.

. The combination set forth in claim l a sealed envelope completelyenclosing said web, said suture devices, and said puncture resistantstrips, fabricated of a material to maintain the enclosed materialssealed from the ambient atmo-

1. A carrier for suture devices for surgical use comprising, incombination an elongated web of thin flexible material having apredetermined length and width; a first relatively narrow strip ofpuncture resistant material secured to said web at one end, the lengthof said strip corresponding to the width of said web; a plurality ofsuture devices, each comprising a suture needle and a preattached lengthof thread; each suture device having a length corresponding generally tothe length of the carrier web and attached strip; means in said web forsecuring the threads of said suture devices thereto in parallel relationlengthwise of the web, with the suture needles overlying said punctureresistant strip; said thread securing means permitting ready removal ofthe suture devices by pulling the devices longitudinally relative to theweb; a second puncture resistant strip secured to and overlying saidsuture needles on said first puncture resistant strip for confining saidsuture needles, and being readily removable to expose the needles foruse.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 said thread securing meanscomprising means arranged in parallel rows along the length thereof forpermitting interweaving of the suture threads in the web in parallelside-by-side relation.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 saidthread securing means comprising parallel rows of spaced tabs
 4. Thecombination set forth in claim 3 wherein said tabs are formed fromincomplete circular cuts having an extent of about 270*.
 5. Thecombination set forth in claim 1 one of said strips being transparent tovisually expose the suture needles.
 6. The combination set forth inclaim 5 wherein said second strip is transparent and is secured to saidfirst strip by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive, whereby saidsecond strip is readily removed from the first strip to release saidsuture devices.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 5 a sealedenvelope completely enclosing said web, said envelope including atransparent portion overlying said transparent strip, whereby saidsuture needles are visibly exposed from the exterior of the enclosingenvelope.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 1 said web having thecharacteristic of relative stiffness and resistance to bending; aplurality of parallel side-by-side rows of hinged tabs formed frompunched cutouts in said web; said tabs being attached to the remainderof the web along hinge axes parallel to said rows; said web tabs beingadapted to be displaced temporarily from the plane of the web to permitthe laying of extended suture device threads over the cutouts of therespective rows and, due to the bend resistance characteristic, tendingto return to the plane of the web; said tabs being replaced within theweb cutout openings and, due to the stiffness characteristic, beingreengaged frictionally to define fasteners for laterally andlongitudinally confining the suture threads on the web.
 9. Thecombination set forth in claim 1 a sealed envelope completely enclosingsaid web, said suture devices, and said puncture resistant strips,fabricated of a material to maintain the enclosed materials sealed fromthe ambient atmosphere.